Theresa Muñoz was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. She has published poetry in magazines in the United Kingdom and Canada. She is a Ph.D. candidate in Scottish Literature at the University of Glasgow. She is a frequent contributor to Scotland’s Sunday Herald’s book pages, as well as the Scottish Review of Books.
Questions & Answers
Is there a specific moment that inspired you to pursue poetry?
When I was fifteen I read Robert Frost’s poem about shyness, entitled “Revelation.” Since then I have always tried to articulate what I’m thinking and how I’m feeling.
How/where do you find inspiration today?
I am often inspired by photography. I am currently writing a sequence of poems based on some photos I’ve taken in the last few years.
What is your writing process?
I like to write in the mornings after a cup of coffee. Before I write the poem, I jot down key words or phrases that I intend to use somewhere in the poem.
What is your revision/editing process?
I like to write the first draft quickly, then return to the poem as its shape/tone becomes clear. During revision I move words or stanzas around.
Did you write poetry in high school? If yes, how did you get started? If no, why not?
I wrote a lot of poetry as a teenager after school or on the weekends. I read a lot too—I scoured anthologies to find poets I liked, and wanted to emulate.
Do you use any resources that a young poet would find useful (e.g. websites, text books, etc.)?
I like www.poets.org, from the American Academy of Poets. I also look forward to the Griffin Poetry Prize Anthology and the Forward Book of Poetry every year.
When you were high school aged, what would have been helpful/motivating to hear from a published poet?
To keep writing, even when other commitments take up your time. And to find your own way of expressing things—your personal style and voice.